Gas holder without dead space



June 1939. K. JAGSCHITZ GAS HOLDER WITHOUT DEAD SPACE Filed Oct. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Konrad/093M172 BY ATTORNEY K. JAGSCHITZ GAS HOLDER WITHOUT DEAD SPACE June 13, 1939.

Filed Oct. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Konrad JagsM/fz Y ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS HOLDER WITHOUT DEAD SPACE many Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,171 In Germany October 18, 1934 16 Claims.

With the known gasholders the periods of time in which the explosion danger is greatest are those at which the gasholder is put into and is thrown out of service. In the first of these cases the gas entering into the dead space or dead Spaces of the gasholder becomes mixed with air contained therein so that an explosive mixture arises, and in the other of said cases the gas that has remained in the dead space or spaces must be blown out, so that an explosive mixture is again formed. Another source of danger resides in the fact that certain kinds of gas form ferric or ferrous sulphide with the iron parts of the gasholder with which they come in contact, said compounds being likely to become heated to redhot condition on coming in contact with atmospheric air.

The risk of the formation of detonating gas has formerly been reduced by accommodating, in-

'sofar as bell-shaped gasholders are concerned, the shape of the top of the gasholder to the shape of the bottom, that is to say, if the bottom is plane, then also the topof the holder has been made plane so that the top and the bottom could contact with one another when the gasholder was in the empty state. The same is true of disk gasholders in which the plane or vaulted disk can be seated down upon a plane or vaulted bottom. And as regards the danger of the members concerned becoming red-hot by reason of the formation of ferric or ferrous sulphide, this danger can be greatly reduced by wetting said members. This can be done without difliculty with the stationary parts of all known types of gasholders,

but matters are otherwise with the movable parts, especially with the lower surface of the top or ceiling of telescopic gasholders and disk-gasholders. With these types of gasholders the lower surface of the top or ceiling cannot be provided with a layer of a protective liquid, in consequence whereof there exists with them the danger that ferric or ferrous sulphide which has, perhaps, formed commences to glow on coming in contact with air, but air must nevertheless be blown into the gasholder so as to render its interior accessible if a repair must there be made.

The dangers and risks mentioned in the preceding paragraphs can be completely obviated by providing, on the one hand, in known manner, the top or ceiling with a plane or horizontal bottom so as to do away either completely or at least nearly completely with a dead space, and on the other hand (which is the new feature, per se, as well as in combination with said plane or horizontal bottom) by providing below the said top or ceiling a basin which contains a liquid with which the bottom surface of such top or ceiling contacts when it arrives in its lowermost position or into which it then dips. The formation of a dead space of even minute size is in this way completely prevented and no explosive mixture can form either when the gasholder is filled or when it is emptied, as there is not even the slightest amount of air trapped with which the gas could form an explosive mixture. Blowing out any residue of gas when the gasholder has been emptied is then, of course, unnecessary as there is no gas left owing to the contact of the horizontal bottom surface of the ceiling with the surface of the liquid in the basin throughout the entire extent of such surface. If ferric or ferrous sulphide has been formed this is rendered entirely innoxious by the wetting of those parts of the gasholder which first come in contact with the gas, so that said parts cannot now become red-hot.

It is of advantage to employ in the basin a liquid which prevents corrosions of the iron and is, besides, cold-proof, as, for instance, oil or a similar liquid or an emulsion of oil and water or water in which a suitable chemical has been dissolved, such as sodium-bichromate.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example on the accompanying drawings on which Figure 1 is a vertical axial section through a telescopic gasholder designed according to this invention. Figure 2 is a similar axial section through a gasholder of the disk type. Figure 3 is a section through a bell gasholder with elevated bottom, and Figure 4 is a section through a gasholder with collapsible shell, all as fully described hereinafter.

On the drawings, i (Fig. 1) denotes the basin, and 6 is the water or other suitable liquid filling it. 2 denotes the bell, and 3 the lower portion of the shell. t is the ceiling or top of the bell which is perfectly horizontal or plane and is carried by an iron structure 5. The top 4 is made of bending-proof sheet-metal plates. Immediately below it, upon the liquid 6, is a layer of a liquid l whose purpose is to wet the lower surface of the top d. When the top 4 is in its lowermost position in which the gasholder is completely emptied, it contacts along its entire extent with the liquid 1 so that there remains no dead place whatever and the bottom surface of the top 4 is completely protected against corrosion.

Fig. 2 shows a waterless or disk gas-holder in which the non-corroding liquid l0 covers the bottom 9 of the casing or receptacle 8. l l is the disk which normally rests on the body of the gas in the gasholder and below which is the liquid ID with which it contacts throughout its entire extent when all gas has been withdrawn. The disk II is provided with a hood I3 that covers the end of the gas supply I2 which penetrates through the liquid I0.

The type of gasholder shown in Fig. 2 is provided, as is well known, with a peripheral seal II a which slides along the inner wall of the vertically extending shell 8 as the disk moves vertically. This seal is preferably so constructed and arranged that its bottom is approximately at the level of the bottom of the disk, as illustrated. In the structure shown in Fig. 2, the peripheral sliding seal Ila is liquid-tight and has also the function of preventing escape of liquid at the periphery of the disk as the latter comes in contact with the liquid, the latter being thus confined below the disk. In consequence, the disk does not sink into the liquid but floats upon the surface thereof.

In Fig. 3 the bottom I4 of the gasholder is elevated and supported by columns or a structure I5 of any suitable design. The bottom I4 has an upwardly directed rim 20 and constitutes a basin for the anti-corroding liquid I9. Around said I5 of; the inverted bell.

rim is a packing I8 along which slides the shell The top I1 is a little elevated at its rim so as to overlap the rim 20, whereas the main portion of the top contacts with the liquid I9 when the gasholder is empty, as'

illustrated.

In Fig. ,4 the collapsible bell has a bellowsshaped shell, 22 which, when the gasholder is empty, is located in an annular trough 23. The

edge of the shell 22, at the lower end of the same,

is tightly connected with the inner circumferential wall'of the trough 23, and the uppermost portion of the shell is firmly connected with the top 2I which is likewise completely plane or horizontal and is held by an iron structure, as in Fig. 1. The shell divides the trough 23 into two concentric portions, of which the inner portion 24 .contains the anti-corroding liquid, whereas the 45.

outer portion 25 contains water or another suitable liquid. The anti-corroding liquid contacts with the inner surface of the shell, as well as with the lower surface of the top 2| when the latter is in its lowermost position in which the shell 22 is completely collapsed, as in the figure. The liquid 25 may be a. mixture of water and a sub stance or substances of such a kind that the outer surface of the shell receives a sort of coating. 25 and 21 are overflow pipes, of which the first I serves for supplying and withdrawing or conducting away the liquid 24 and the other serves for supplying or withdrawing or conducting away the liquid 25. The overflow pipe .25 serves also for conducting away the water of condensation formingwithin the gasholder. The two overflow 'pipes are preferably so designed and arranged that the height of-the level of the liquid 24 is the same as the height of the level of the liquid 25, so that the pressures which theliquid exert upon the inner and the outersurface of the shell folds is the same on both sides and they thus compensate one another.

The collapsible shell shown in [may be 7 constructed in the manner described in my copending application, Ser..No. 10,533, filed March 11,1935. V l Means may beprovided to heat the liquids in the trough 23. I have refrained from' showing and describing such means as they do not form part of this invention.

The gas is supplied in the same manner as in Fig. 2. The means therefore have been omitted in Figs. 1 and 4.

The folds of the shell 22 are so shaped that when it has collapsed the open inner ends of the spaces between the folds lie higher than the closed outer ends of the same so that the small amounts of gas perhaps still contained in said folds can escape from out of the same, the said spaces being completely filled with the liquid 24.

It will be understood that the movable member (2 and 3 in Fig. 1; II in Fig. 2; IS in Fig. 3; 22 in Fig. 4) may be suitably guided. The respective guide means have been omitted in the drawings, as they do not form part of the invention. i

Besides the advantages obtained by the abovedescribed new arrangement and combination of parts for the purpose stated, the following additional advantages are obtained by the present invention:

is being emptied, is in danger of buckling inwardly owing to the reduction in pressure in the dead space or spaces in the lowermost position of the shell or disk caused by the cooling efiect of a. cold rain or the like. A reduction of temperature even by only a few degrees may cause a reduced pressure of a dangerous magnitude. In order to obviate such consequences it has hitherto been customary to establish, in the case in question, a communication between the dead. space or spaces and the outer air. If such precaution was inadvertently omitted, the danger of the top of the shell being pressed inwardly in consequence of the relative vacuum in the dead spaces was ever present, but in the present invention it is obviated entirely automatically and reliably in that there are nodead spaces in gasholders constructed according to this invention.

The same useful effect is obtained if the gas is withdrawn from the gasholder by suction, forwhose lower edges are attached in leak-proof manner to a Wall of the trough, said trough being adapted to receive a body of sealing liquid externally of the collapsible of liquid covering the bottom of the gasholder, the depth of'said layer of liquid being such that in the collapsed condition of the bell, the. inner topsu'rface of the latter is substantially comwall; a permanent body pletely in contact with the liquid, whereby the formation of a dead gas space of dangerous proportions in the collapsed condition of the gasholder and oxidation of any sulfide deposit on the innersurface of the top of theshell are prevented, and conduit means for introducing gas into the space between the liquid and the top of the bell and for withdrawing the same therefrom.

2. A gasholder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the collapsible side walls are so formed that in the collapsed condition of the gasholder they are inclined upwardly toward the center of the gasholder, whereby gas in the convolutions of the shell is easily displaced by the liquid within the shell.

3. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising in combination, a vertically extending shell supported upon the ground; a vertically movable horizontal disk normally resting on the body of the gas in the shell, the bottom of said disk being substantially fiat; sliding sealing means secured to the periphery of said disk and moving with the latter along the inner surface of the shell; the bottom of the gasholder being approximately at the level of the bottom of the shell; a permanent layer of liquid covering the bottom of the gasholder, the gas being confined between the said layer of liquid and the disk; and conduits for introducing gas into the space above the liquid layer and for withdrawing the same therefrom, said disk being in contact with said liquid throughout substantially its entire area when it arrives in its lowermost position, whereby dead gas space of dangerous proportions in the lowermost position of the disk is avoided.

i. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comp-rising, in combination, a vertically extending shell supported upon the ground; a vertically movable horizontal disk normally resting on the body of gas in the shell, the bottom of said disk being substantially flat; sliding sealing means secured to the periphery of said disk and moving with the latter along the inner surface of the shell; the bottom of the sealing means being approximately at the level of the bottom of the disk; a permanent layer of non-corroding liquid upon said bottom, the gas being confined between the said layer of liquid and the disk; and conduits for introducing gas into the space above the liquid layer and for withdrawing the same therefrom, said liquid being of such depth that the disk contacts with said liquid, when it arrives in its lowermost position, substantially throughout the whole bottom area of said disk, said peripheral seal being liquidtight and acting then to confine the liquid below the disk and compel the latter to rest on the surface of the liquid, whereby dead gas space in the lowermost position of the disk is avoided.

5. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, a shell, a vertically movable horizontal disk normally resting on the body of gas in the shell, the bottom of said disk being substantially flat; an annular sliding seal moving relatively to the shell and along the surface of the latter during the vertical movements of the disk; a basin having a substantially flat, horizontal bottom and located below said disk; a permanent body of liquid in said basin, the gas being confined between the said layer of liquid and the disk; and conduits for introducing gas into the space above the liquid layer and for withdrawing the same therefrom, said disk contacting said liquid, when it arrives in its lowermost position, substantially throughout its whole bottom area, whereby dead gas space in the lowermost position of the disk is avoided.

6. A gas holder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, a shell; a horizontal disk associated with the shell and bounding the gas space at its top, said disk being movable vertically as the volume of stored gas changes, the bottom of said disk being substantially fiat; sealing means associated with the shell; a permanent layer of liquid located below said disk and defining the bottom of the storage gas space, the gas being confined between the said layer of liquid and the disk; and conduits for introducing gas into the space above the liquid layer and for withdrawing the same therefrom, said disk contacting said liquid, when it arrives in its lowermost position, substantially throughout the whole bottom area thereof, whereby dead space in the lowermost position of the disk is avoided.

'7. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, a vertically movable shell for the storage of the gas; a horizontal disk forming the top of said shell; the bottom of said disk and of the gasholder being substantially flat; a permanent layer of liquid of substantially uniform depth located below said disk and defining the bottom of the storage gas space; sealing means cooperating with said movable shell to seal the interior of the gas holder; and conduits for introducing gas into the space above said layer of liquid and for withdrawing the same therefrom; said disk contacting said liquid When it arrives in its lowermost position, substantially throughout the whole bottom area thereof, whereby dead gas space in the lowermost position of the disk is avoided.

8. A telescoping gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, a vertically movable bell and one or more telescoping sections, the said bell normally resting on the body of the gas stored therewithin; the top of said bell comprising a substantially flat, horizontal disk; sealing means for said bell and section or sections at the periphery of the gasholder; a permanent layer of liquid covering the bottom of the gas holder, the stored gas being thus confined between the upper surface of said layer of liquid and the top of the bell; said layer being of a height substantially equal to that of the disk in the lowermost position of the bell; and conduits for introducing gas into the space above said liquid and for withdrawing the same therefrom; said disk being in contact with the surface of said liquid layer throughout substantially its entire area when the bell is in its lowermost position, whereby the formation of a dead gas space in the completely collapsed condition of the gasholder is avoided.

9. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising a movable bell having a substantially fiat, horizontally extending top; a stationary bottom coacting with the bell; a seal between said bottom and the side wall surfaces of the bell; said side wall surfaces constituting the outer confines of the seal; and a permanent body of liquid upon the bottom of the gas holder and enclosed by and sealed within the walls of the bell, said liquid being of such height that substantially the whole inner surface of the top of the bell is brought into contact with the liquid in the lowermost position of the bell, whereby the formation of a dead gas space of dangerous proportions in the collapsed condition of the gasholder is avoided and conduit means for introducing gas into the space between the liquid and the top of the bell and for withdrawing the same therefrom.

10. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, a basin of upright U-shaped cross-section and having a substantially flat bottom supported upon the ground, a permanent layer of liquid in said basin, and a bell dipping into said basin and movable vertically with reference thereto, the top of the bell being in the form of a substantially flat, horizontally extending disk, and the height of the liquid layer being such that in the lowermost position of the bell, the top of the-bell is in contact with the surface of said liquid throughout substantially its entire area, whereby dead -gas space in the collapsed condition of the bell is avoided and conduit means for introducing gas into the space between the liquid and the top 7 of the bell and for withdrawing the same therefrom. r

11.; A' gasholder for the storage of large quan tities of gas in the open, comprising, in ccrnbination, a basin supported upon the ground, a collapsible bell overlying said basin and having a substantially flat, horizontally extending top, and collapsible side Walls Whose lower edges are attached to-the basin; and a permanent layer of liquid inside of said-collapsible bell and of such height that in the collapsed condition of the bell, the top of the latter is in contact with the u i surface of the liquid throughout substantially its whole extent, whereby the formation of dead gas space of danger propo-rtions'in the collapsed condition of the gasholder is avoided and conduit means for introducing gas into the space between the liquid and the top of the bell andfor withdrawing the same therefrom.

12. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, an upwardly extending shell confining the gas at the side; a horizontally/"extending flat top section sealedly associated with the shell and confining the gas from above; a bottomiform- ,ing atrough; a permanent layer of liquid cover ing the bottom; said top section being vertically movable relatively to the surface of the liquid layer, and the underside of the top section and the liquid layer being in contact throughout substantially the entire area of, the top section when the latter isin its lowermost position; and conduits for introducing gas into and for withdrawing the same from the gasholder. 1 13. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, an upwardly extending shell confining the gas at the side; a horizontally extending flat top 7 the liquid layer, and the underside of the top section and the liquid layer being in contact throughout substantially the entire area of the top section when the latter is in its lowermost position; and conduits for introducing gas into and for withdrawing the samefrom thegasholder. 1 I f 14. A gasholder as set forth in claim 13, wherein the bottom of the gasholder is substantially flat throughout the whole area thereof inwardly of the sealing line of contact between the shell and the bottom, the whole body of liquid being thus of uniform depth.

15. A gasholder as set forth in claim 13, wherein the bottom of the gasholder rests directly upon the ground.

16. A gasholder for the storage of large quantities of gas in the open, comprising, in combination, an upwardly extending shell confining the gas at the side; a horizontally extending flat top section sealedly associated with'the shell and confining the gas from above; a bottom sealed in liquid-tight relation against said shell; a permanent layer of liquid covering the bottom; said top section being vertically movable relatively to the surface of theliquid layer, and the underside of the top section and the liquid layer being in 46 the same from the 

